Suzanne and I tried to go to Edinburgh again. We figured this time we would definitely take the train because the drive was just too long. Unfortunately, trains and Edinburgh just don't seem to work well for us.
We left the house early to catch the last train of the morning that would get us into Edinburgh early enough to see the castle, walk the mile, have lunch at our new favorite restaurant, do a bit of shopping and get us home before dark (so I didn't have to drive that hour plus on narrow roads in the dark). What I wasn't banking on was road work, slow vehicles, starting five minutes late and realizing too late how far away the parking lot was from the train station. At least Suzanne remembered to bring £10 in coins for the parking meter!
Just before we got to Carlisle I asked Suzanne if we go, or bag it and try the next day (ensuring we leave an extra 30 minutes early)? We decided to go for it, Suzanne's intuition tells her the train may be a few minutes late and I've learned to listen to that... We arrive at the lot with 2 minutes to departure, drop the coin in (after the ladies ahead of me fumble around asking for a coin here and a coin there from her friends--they look like they are going shopping in Carlisle as they ain't putting in enough to take the train!). Off we run to the station...
Yes! The train is late so we have a few minutes. We buy our tickets, Suzanne has to get her daily fix of the UK rag -- The Daily Mail. But as she steps up to pay a pensioner (think little old lady) pushes in front of Suzanne without even a "how do you do" and pays for her stuff, forcing us just that much bit more late! Will it ever end?! Eventually we find the train (the track numbers were not obvious) and just as we board we hear the chimes! Doors closing and it's time to find a seat. But first...we look at each other with apprehension...did we get on the right train? We moved so fast we didn't check...train is moving now...ah, the voice says this train is going to Edinburgh. Whew!
Which was the next odyssey. They were all marked "reserved". Our tickets were open seating (yes, cheap fares). After we walked around, and went to the next car we just took two seats together. No problem, right? At the next stop in Lockerbie an older woman gets on and in a very loud voice tells us we are in her seat! She was adamant, her ticket gave her the right to sit there! And in a thick Scottish brogue, to boot. (We really couldn't understand most of what she was saying, but we did understand "seat" "9" "mine" and "ticket". Being of above average intelligence most of the time we were able to string the words together into a coherent message. Okay, we'll move. Eventually we find ourselves standing as we cannot find seats and the porter is coming so we don't want to offend him, or not follow the rules. When he punches our tickets we ask where we should sit, he responds "anywhere". Not reserved? No, our tickets mean we sit anywhere so long as somebody can't show they have the seat. And...if all the seats are taken we have to stand. Sometimes it's standing room only!
Well, I'm not standing for two hours on a moving train...so we find two seats, as it happens near that loud lady, one of the empty seats being next to her. She offers to move so we can sit together. Well, she redeemed herself.
We get to Edinburgh and arrive right near the Royal Mile, which is near the castle. It's lunchtime so off we go to Porto & Fi, our new favorite restaurant. I had a quiche made with brie for the cheese, which was amazing. Suzanne had a risotto made with a fish stock and smoked fish. Good food and a pint and we're off to Edinburgh Castle.
But first we had to check out Grey Friars Bobby. Bobby was a faithful Skye Terrier back in the mid-1800's who never left his master's side, even after his master died. Bobby laid near his master's grave for over 14 years, leaving only to eat, and when he too passed he was buried near the graveyard (as a dog he could not be buried on sacred ground). His story is so legendary, Edinburgh raised a statue for him.
We headed up to Castle Edinburg, which was pretty cool...but I have to say that after touring Tower of London, Windsor Castle and Hampton Court; well let's just say it's not quite the same!
This is a view from the castle towards the Firth and out to the North Sea. That tower is where they drop the ball every day at 1pm when they fire the cannon to mark the time. That was done for ships in the harbor. We know why the Scots fire the gun at 1pm to mark the time right...well, it's cheaper than any other time of day as it only takes one shot of powder! Deep pockets and short arms.
They actually used this cannon until its breech broke in the 1800's, now they use a modern howitzer.
We finally had enough of Edinburgh so headed to the train station. We'd noted the schedule and got there about 15 minutes before the designated time...for the train to arrive in Carlisle. We'd misread the schedule! OMG when is the next train? Nealy an hour and a half, and it's during peak commuting time (our cheap fares were for off-peak travel only). We might be standing for the ride home, or worse they won't let us board...we figure we may be buying upgrades en route. If that's the case I'm getting a reserved seat so I can loudly proclaim I have one...
After lots of people watching we got on the train and luckily we found two empty seats, together. Smooth sailing, right? No chance! The toilets didn't work, one was so filthy nobody should be allowed in. Good thing we went just before departure...and didn't drink a lot leading up. Can we hold it? We must!
We arrived in Carlisle late, went straight to the toilets in the station...hungry for dinner but the snack shop was closed as it was so late. Straight home and by the time we got there we were ready to call it a day and get some sleep.
Until next time...
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